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Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+TM points†◊ and pay no annual fee in your first year.◊ Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+TM points by making at least $2,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. You are eligible to earn an additional 20,000 Scene+TM point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.
Welcome Bonus
Earn 30,000 Aeroplan® points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13.
Our Cash Offer
$75 $150 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Promotional rebate expires on Oct 1, 2025
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$644.5
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
+
$500
Scene+
Annual Fee
-
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Finly Rebate
Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$1,294.5
$524.5 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$517
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
+
$630
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
-
$120
First Year Value
$1,027
$397 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services*
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
How to Earn Rewards
- 2x Aeroplan® points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- 1.5x Aeroplan® points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- 1x Aeroplan® point on everything else
Insurance Included
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceFlight Delay
$500/person
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/trip
Insurance Included
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrenceHotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Extra Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD.svg)
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
American Express® Experiences
Extra Benefits
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Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan pointsAmex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
2 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
Annual Fee
$120
$0$
First Year Waived
Annual Fee
$120
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options
Travel
1¢ / point
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Entertainment
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Travel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMost Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Is this card worth it?
This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Pros
- Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
- If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
Cons
- The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
- The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
- In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.
vs Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
vs Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* Credit Card
vs Scotiabank® Scene+ Visa Card
vs Scotiabank American Express® Card
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
Legal
◊Conditions apply.
†With minimum spend in the 1st year.
*On eligible purchases in Canada only. Conditions apply.
Terms and conditions apply. See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
*Terms and conditions apply.
As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.